Main targets in Chengdu: Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Chinese Grosbeak, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Tiger Shrike, White-browed Laughingthrush, Chinese Blackbird, Chinese Bulbul etc.
Overnight: Chengdu
Day 2 — Morning Chengdu Park Birding → Drive to Chuanzhusi
Morning birding at Chengdu urban park, then drive to Chuanzhusi.
Main targets in Chuanzhusi: Tibetan Snowcock, Blue-eared Pheasant, Grandala, Siberian Rubythroat, Chinese Rubythroat, White-bellied Redstart, Red-fronted Rosefinch, Streaked Rosefinch, White-browed Tit-Warbler, Crested Tit-Warbler, White-browed Tit, Salim Ali’s Swift.
Overnight: Chuanzhusi
Day 3 — Morning Chuanzhusi Birding → Drive to Ruoergai after lunch
Morning birding around Chuanzhusi; after lunch drive to Ruoergai with roadside stops.
Overnight: Ruoergai
Days 4–5 — Two full days birding in Ruoergai area
All-day birding across Ruoergai plateau habitats.
Main targets in Ruoergai: Blue-eared Pheasant, Chinese Grouse, Tibetan Snowcock, Blood Pheasant, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush, Plain Laughingthrush, Giant Laughingthrush, Sichuan Jay, Spectacled Parrotbill, Crested Tit Warbler, Chinese Fulvetta, Three-banded Rosefinch, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Chinese Nuthatch, Sichuan Tit, Siberian Rubythroat, Streaked Rosefinch, Blanford’s Rosefinch, White-browed Tit Warbler, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Hume’s Leaf Warbler, Buff-barred Warbler, Slaty-backed Flycatcher etc.
Overnight: Ruoergai
Day 6 — Ruoergai → Maerkang (roadside birding, focus on Przevalski’s Finch)
Drive south to Maerkang with continuous roadside birding, prioritizing Pinktail / Przevalski’s Finch.
Main targets en route from Ruoergai to Maerkang: Przevalski’s Finch (Pinktail), White-browed Tit, Giant Grey Shrike, White-browed Tit Warbler, Little Owl, Eagle Owl etc.
Overnight: Maerkang
Day 7 — Morning Mengbishan Birding → Drive to Wolong
Morning birding on Mengbishan slopes; drive to Wolong with en route birding stops.
Main targets in Mengbishan: Verreaux’s Monal-Partridge, Blood Pheasant, Sichuan Jay, Crested Tit Warbler, Three-banded Rosefinch, Chinese Fulvetta, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Maroon-backed Accentor, Giant Laughingthrush, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, Slaty-backed Flycatcher etc.
Overnight: Wolong
Day 8 — Full day birding in Balangshan
Full high-altitude birding on Balangshan Pass.
Main targets in Balangshan: Chinese Monal, Golden Pheasant, White-eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Koklass Pheasant, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Dark-rumped Rosefinch, Slaty Bunting, Chinese Babax, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Indian Blue Robin, Rosy Pipit, Buff-barred Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler etc.
Overnight: Wolong
Day 9 — Half day Balangshan Birding → Drive to Kangding
Morning short birding at Balangshan, then drive to Kangding.
Main targets in Kangding: Chinese Monal, White-eared Pheasant, Snow Partridge, Blood Pheasant, Golden Bush Robin, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Red-fronted Rosefinch, Crimson-browed Finch, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Alpine Thrush, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, occasional Grandala & Solitary Snipe.
Overnight: Kangding
Day 10 — Half day Kangding Birding → Drive to Hailuogou after lunch
Morning birding around Kangding; after lunch drive to Hailuogou.
Overnight: Hailuogou
Day 11 — Full day birding in Hailuogou
Full day forest birding along Hailuogou trails.
Main targets in Hailuogou: Sichuan Treecreeper, Pere David’s Tit, Fire-capped Tit, Streaked Barwing, Scaly-breasted Cupwing (Chinese Cupwing), Himalayan Shortwing, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Blue-fronted Robin, Collared Grosbeak.
Overnight: Hailuogou
Day 12 — Morning Erlangshan Birding → Drive to Longcanggou (3–4 hours)
Early morning birding at Erlangshan, then 3–4 hours drive to Longcanggou.
Main targets in Erlangshan: Firethroat, Rufous-tailed (Moupinia) Babbler, Barred Laughingthrush, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Yellow-throated Bunting, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird.
Overnight: Longcanggou
Day 13 — Half day Longcanggou Birding → Drive to Wawushan
Morning birding in Longcanggou valleys, transfer to Wawushan afterwards.
Main targets in Longcanggou: Gold-fronted Fulvetta, Sichuan Bush Warbler, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Golden Parrotbill, White-backed Woodpecker, Bay Woodpecker, Brown Dipper, Emei Leaf Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler etc.
Overnight: Wawushan
Day 14 — Full day birding in Wawushan
All-day multi-elevation birding at Wawushan, reliable chance for Red Panda.
Main targets in Wawushan: Grey-hooded Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Three-toed Parrotbill, Golden Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Emei Shan Liocichla, Spotted Laughingthrush, Red-winged Laughingthrush, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Lesser Cuckoo, White-throated Needletail, Bianchi’s Warbler, Marten’s Warbler, Alström’s Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Ashy-throated Warbler, Red-tailed Minla, Blue-winged Minla, White-browed Shrike-babbler, Yellow-bellied Bush Warbler, Spotted Bush Warbler, White-bellied Redstart etc, and RED PANDA.
Overnight: Wawushan
Day 15 — Half day Wawushan Birding → Drive to Pingshan
Morning wrap-up birding at Wawushan, then drive to Pingshan.
Overnight: Pingshan
Day 16 — Morning Pingshan Birding → Drive back to Chengdu
Morning pheasant-focused birding in Pingshan, full drive back to Chengdu.
Main targets in Pingshan: Sichuan Partridge, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Temminck’s Tragopan, Silver Pheasant, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Emei Shan Liocichla, Buffy Laughingthrush, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Sichuan Bush Warbler etc.
Overnight: Chengdu
Day 17 (Departure Day) — Chengdu airport send-off & departure
Transfer to Chengdu CTU / TFU airport for outbound flight. End of tour.
Our 15-day Yunnan & Nonggang Birding Tour combines two of southern China’s finest birding regions, from the limestone forests of Nonggang to the incredibly diverse forests of western Yunnan. Visiting famous birding sites including Baihualing, Yingjiang, Ruili, Shiti Village, Tengchong and Lijiang, the tour offers excellent chances of recording more than 300 bird species, including an impressive selection of Chinese endemics, pheasants, parrotbills, laughingthrushes, hornbills and Indo-Burmese specialties, with star birds such as Nonggang Babbler, Yunnan Nuthatch, White-speckled Laughingthrush,Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, Grey Peacock-Pheasant, White-cheeked Partridge, Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler, Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Spot-breasted Laughingthrush, Scarlet-faced Liocichla,Eye-ringed Parrotbill, Brown-winged Parrotbill, Pale-billed Parrotbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Ward’s Trogon, Striped Prinia,White-hooded Babbler, the highly sought-after Naung Mung Scimitar Babbler, and many more.
One of the greatest strengths of this itinerary is the large number of well-established bird hides, especially at Nonggang, Lijiang, Baihualing, Ruili and Shiti Village. These hides provide superb views and outstanding photographic opportunities for many normally elusive forest birds, making this a relatively easy-paced, hide-based tour with less strenuous walking than many traditional birding trips while still delivering exceptional bird diversity.
For those seeking an even greater challenge, we offer a 5-day Sclater’s Monal Extension to the remote Dulongjiang area. Sclater’s Monal is regarded as one of the world’s most sought-after and difficult pheasants to see, and this extension offers an excellent opportunity to search for this legendary Himalayan species, alongside a selection of other scarce high-altitude birds.
Tour Schedule & Departure Dates
2027 March 10-23 (14 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , private tour,tour is full
2028 March 1-15 (15 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 10 pax, cost: 3600 USD
2028 March 16-20, Sclater’s Monal Extension (5 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 10 pax, cost: 1200 USD
2029 March 1-15 (15 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 10 pax, cost: 3800 USD
2029 March 16-20, Sclater’s Monal Extension (5 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 10 pax, cost: 1200 USD
Besides our scheduled and private tours, we also offer budget-friendly birding tours. If you are an international birding company looking for a reliable ground operator in China, please feel free to contact us for rates and further details.
Deposit : USD 500 per person
Yunnan & Nonggang Tour Single Room Supplement (14 nights) :USD 450 per person
Sclater’s Monal Extension Tour Single Room Supplement (5 nights) :USD 200 per person
Tour Cost Includes:
All ground transportation by private car/van/coach
Accommodation in twin-share or single rooms, all with private facilities
All meals (including daily bottled water, packed breakfasts, and lunches/dinners mostly at local restaurants)
All necessary entrance tickets, hide fees, cable car/shuttle bus fees on tour and nature reserve permits
All guide and driver expenses (meals, accommodation, and service fees)
Domestic flight from Nanning to Lijiang
Tour Cost Excludes:
International flights
Visa and Travel insurance
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Tips for local staff
Detailed Daily Itinerary & Highlight Birds
Day 1 (Arrival Day) — Nanning
Airport pickup at Nanning Airport and transfer to Nonggang Village.
Overnight: Nonggang
Day 2 — Full day Nonggang
All-day birding in Nonggang limestone forests with multiple photo hides arranged according to bird activity.
Morning final birding in Shiti to complete the target list, then drive back to Baoshan. Guests joining the Sclater’s Monal Extension Tour will overnight in Baoshan, while other participants will be transferred to Baoshan Airport for their onward flights. End of the main tour.
Sclater’s Monal Extension Tour — 5 days
Day 1 — Baoshan → Fugong (6–7 hours drive)
Long-distance driving from Baoshan to Fugong.
Overnight: Fugong
Days 2–4 — Full days Dulongjiang area birding
Three full days dedicated birding in the Dulongjiang region, focusing on searching for Sclater’s Monal and a wide range of rare montane bird species. Flexible schedule based on bird activity and weather conditions.
Overnights: Fugong
Day 5 — Fugong → Baoshan & Departure
Morning departure from Fugong, drive back to Baoshan. Transfer to Baoshan airport for outbound flight. End of extension tour.
Mammals, Pheasants & Parrotbills in China – 15 Days
Tour Overview
Sichuan is widely regarded as one of the world’s premier destinations for mammal watching and birding in China, offering an extraordinary diversity of mammals, pheasants, and endemic birds across spectacular mountain forests, alpine meadows, and bamboo habitats. Visiting in autumn, the landscape is transformed into a breathtaking mosaic of golden, crimson, and fiery orange forests, creating one of the finest seasons for wildlife photography and nature travel in China.
This carefully designed 15-day Sichuan Wildlife Tour combines the region’s most productive wildlife reserves to maximise opportunities for mammal watching, birdwatching, and wildlife photography. From the forests of Labahe and Tangjiahe to the high-altitude grasslands of Ruoergai and the bamboo forests of Wawushan, the itinerary covers Sichuan’s richest wildlife habitats in a single journey.
Our mammal targets include Red Panda, Giant Panda, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Sichuan Takin, Tibetan Fox, Wolf, Asian Black Bear, and many other species. Carefully planned early morning field sessions, extensive daytime searching, and night spotlighting maximise opportunities to observe elusive mammals such as Leopard Cat, porcupines, flying squirrels, martens, and other nocturnal wildlife.
For birders, the tour targets an exceptional collection of China’s most sought-after endemic and near-endemic birds. Highlights include Chinese Monal, Temminck’s Tragopan, Golden Pheasant, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Blue-eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Sichuan Partridge, Chinese Grouse, and Przevalski’s Finch, together with one of the world’s richest selections of parrotbills. At Wawushan alone, we have opportunities to search for up to 10 species of parrotbills, including Fulvous, Golden, Ashy-throated, Vinous-throated, Grey-headed, Three-toed, Brown, Great, Spot-breasted, and Spectacled Parrotbill.
Designed for wildlife photographers as well as birdwatchers and mammal enthusiasts, the itinerary also includes visits to carefully selected bird hides, offering outstanding opportunities to photograph Chinese Monal, Temminck’s Tragopan, Golden Pheasant, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Sichuan Partridge, and other shy forest species at close range.
Whether your goal is to experience the best mammal watching in China, photograph spectacular pheasants from professional bird hides, or simply immerse yourself in the breathtaking colours of Sichuan’s autumn forests, this tour offers one of Asia’s most rewarding wildlife adventures.
Tour Highlights
One of China’s premier mammal watching and wildlife tours
Search for 30+ target mammal species
Up to 15 species of pheasants and gamebirds
Up to 9 species of parrotbills
Excellent bird photography opportunities for pheasants and tragopans at hides/blinds
2027 Nov 1- Nov 15 (15 days) Mammal & Bird watching guide : Summer Wong, scheduled tour, group limit : 10 pax, cost: 3800 USD
Besides our scheduled and private tours, we also offer budget-friendly birding tours. If you are an international birding company looking for a reliable ground operator in China, please feel free to contact us for rates and further details.
Deposit : USD 500 per person
Single Room Supplement (14 nights) :USD 550 per person
Tour Cost Includes:
All ground transportation by private car/van/coach
Accommodation in twin-share or single rooms, all with private facilities
All meals (including daily bottled water, packed breakfasts, and lunches/dinners mostly at local restaurants)
All necessary entrance tickets, hide fees, cable car/shuttle bus fees on tour and nature reserve permits
All guide and driver expenses (meals, accommodation, and service fees)
Tour starts in the morning upon your arrival at Chengdu Tianfu Airport. After airport pickup, we drive directly to Pingshan Tanshi Village, a prime pheasant photography site equipped with professional fixed hides. Evening settlement and brief environment adaptation.
Overnight: Pingshan
D2 – Full Day Pheasant Watching at Pingshan
A full day focused on pheasant observation and photography using professional wildlife hides in Pingshan Tanshi Village. All target species are stable resident populations, ensuring reliable sightings in autumn and winter.
Highlight Birds in Pingshan: Sichuan Partridge, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Temminck’s Tragopan, Silver Pheasant, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Emei Shan Liocichla, Buffy Laughingthrush, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Chinese Hwamei, and Slaty-backed Forktail.
Overnight: Pingshan
D3 – Pingshan → Wawushan
Morning final pheasant watching at Pingshan hides, then transfer to Wawushan Scenic Area, a core habitat for wild Red Pandas and diverse mountain forest wildlife.
Overnight: Wawushan
D4 – Full Day Exploration at Wawushan
Full-day in-depth wildlife observation across Wawushan’s bamboo forests on boardwalk, focusing on wild Red Pandas and resident forest bird species.
Morning wildlife spotting for remaining Wawushan targets, then drive to Kangding Lianghekou Village. This high-altitude area is famous for rare alpine pheasants.
Highlight Birds in Kangding: Chinese Monal, White-eared Pheasant, Snow Partridge, Blood Pheasant, and Grandala.
Overnight: Kangding
D6 – Kangding → Labahe
Early morning photography session at Kangding’s professional hide for iconic alpine pheasants, then transfer to Labahe Nature Reserve, a key habitat for wild Red Pandas and diverse large mammals.
Mammals in Labahe: Red Panda, Giant Panda, Sambar, Takin, Red-and-White Giant Flying Squirrel, Chinese Ferret-badger/Small-toothed Ferret-badger and Western Red Deer.
Overnight: Labahe
D7 – Full Day Wildlife Watching at Labahe
A full day dedicated to mammal and forest bird observation in Labahe Nature Reserve, including dawn and dusk patrols for flagship mammal species, plus nocturnal spotlighting for rare small mammals.
Mammals in Labahe: Red Panda, Giant Panda, Sambar, Takin, Red-and-White Giant Flying Squirrel, Chinese Ferret-badger/Small-toothed Ferret-badger and Western Red Deer.
Overnight: Labahe
D8 – Labahe → Wenchuan
Final morning wildlife exploration in Labahe, then drive to Wenchuan. Wenchuan features professional wildlife hides for observing resident Golden Pheasants and mountain forest endemics.
Highlight Bird in Wenchuan: Golden Pheasant.
Overnight: Wenchuan
D9 – Wenchuan → Chuanzhusi
Morning birding at Wenchuan’s local hides, then transfer to Chuanzhusi, a high-altitude grassland and forest transition zone rich in alpine pheasants and plateau mammals.
Mammals in Chuanzhusi: Chinese Mountain Cat, Tibetan Fox, Plateau Pika, Gansu Pika, Siberian Roe Deer and Himalayan Marmot.
Overnight: Chuanzhusi
D10 – Full Day Exploration at Chuanzhusi
A full day of comprehensive wildlife watching covering both forest edges and high-altitude grasslands around Chuanzhusi, targeting exclusive alpine bird and plateau mammal species.
Highlight Birds in Chuanzhusi: Chinese Grouse, Tibetan Snowcock, Blue-eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Common Pheasant, Grandala, Red-fronted Rosefinch, Streaked Rosefinch, White-browed Tit-Warbler, Crested Tit-Warbler, and White-browed Tit.
Mammals in Chuanzhusi: Chinese Mountain Cat, Wolf, Tibetan Fox, Red Fox, Plateau Pika, Gansu Pika, Siberian Roe Deer and Himalayan Marmot.
Overnight: Chuanzhusi
D11 – Chuanzhusi → Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve
Morning final alpine wildlife watching in Chuanzhusi, then drive to Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, one of Sichuan’s most biodiverse primeval forest reserves with abundant large mammals and resident forest birds.
Highlight Birds in Tangjiahe: Golden Pheasant, Sooty Bushtit, Sichuan Treecreeper, Slaty Bunting, Tawny Fish Owl, Brown Dipper, Crested Kingfisher, Little Forktail, Spot-breasted Parrotbill.
Mammals in Tangjiahe: Takin, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Leopard Cat, Tufted Deer, Reeve’s Muntjac, Chinese Goral, Père David’s Rock Squirrel, Yellow-throated Marten, Asian Masked Palm Civet, Malayan Porcupine, Wild Boar, Tibetan Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Chinese Serow, Eurasian Otter, Forest Musk Deer and Asian Black Bear etc
Overnight: Tangjiahe
D12 – Full Day Wildlife Watching in Tangjiahe
A full day of in-depth forest exploration and wildlife tracking in Tangjiahe Reserve. The stable resident wildlife population guarantees excellent observation opportunities in autumn and winter, with optional night spotlighting for nocturnal species.
Highlight Birds in Tangjiahe: Golden Pheasant, Sooty Bushtit, Sichuan Treecreeper, Slaty Bunting, Tawny Fish Owl, Brown Dipper, Crested Kingfisher, Little Forktail, Spot-breasted Parrotbill.
Mammals in Tangjiahe: Takin, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Leopard Cat, Tufted Deer, Reeve’s Muntjac, Chinese Goral, Père David’s Rock Squirrel, Yellow-throated Marten, Asian Masked Palm Civet, Malayan Porcupine, Wild Boar, Tibetan Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Chinese Serow, Eurasian Otter, Forest Musk Deer and Asian Black Bear etc
D13 – Tangjiahe → Yangxian
Final morning wildlife survey in Tangjiahe, then take a long-distance transfer to Yangxian, the core habitat of the endangered Crested Ibis.
Highlight Bird in Yangxian: Crested Ibis
Overnight: Yangxian
D14 – Yangxian → Foping → Xi’an
Morning birding in Yangxian for Crested Ibis, then transfer to Foping National Nature Reserve.Foping features habituated wild Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys with fixed-site supplementary feeding for reliable sightings, plus captive Giant Panda for viewing. After finishing all wildlife targets, drive to Xi’an for overnight stay.
Bird guides : Summer Wong (Wenjuan Wang) & Kexin Peng
Participants: Martin Scott, Max Baumgartn, Nicholias Lindsay, Simon Tonge, Frank Rietkerk, Stuart Mc Kee, Garry Armstrong, David Steele, David Pallash, Markus Craig, Lieyong Gu, Wei Wang
Birding spots on this tour: Xining, Gonghe, Maduo, Nangqian, Qumalai, Golmud, Dulan, Wulan, Chaka, Qinghaihu Lake
On our scheduled 12-day Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau birding tour from July 14–25, 2025, we recorded 183 species, including 19 endemics, along with other highlight birds such as:
On our scheduled Sichuan birding tour from June 11–30, 2025, we recorded 288 species, including 33 endemics as well as other breeding endemics, near-endemics, and highlight birds such as:
14 species of pheasants: Chinese Monal (E), White-eared Pheasant (E), Blue-eared Pheasant (E), Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Golden Pheasant (E, heard), Temminck’s Tragopan, Verreaux’s/Chestnut-throated Monal-partridge (E), Tibetan Partridge, Tibetan Snowcock, Blood Pheasant, Sichuan Partridge (E), Silver Pheasant, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Common Pheasant
9 species of parrotbills: Grey-hooded Parrotbill (E), Spectacled Parrotbill (E), Golden Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Three-toed Parrotbill (E)
Tawny Fish Owl, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush (E), Plain/Pere David’s Laughingthrush (E), Elliot’s Laughingthrush (E), Barred Laughingthrush (E, heard), Giant Laughingthrush (E), Emei Shan Liocichla (E), Buffy Laughingthrush (E), Black-faced Laughingthrush, Red-winged Laughingthrush, Spotted Laughingthrush, Chinese Babax, Sichuan Jay (E), Salim Ali’s Swift (E), Tibetan Lark, Black-necked Crane, Saker Falcon, Chinese Rubythroat, Siberian Rubythroat, Firethroat, Przevalski’s Finch/Pinktail (E), Three-banded Rosefinch (E), Blanford’s Rosefinch, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinch (E), Crimson-browed Finch, White-bellied Redstart, Indian Blue Robin, Golden Bush Robin, White-browed Bush Robin, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Sapphire Flycatcher, Sichuan Tit (E), White-browed Tit (E), Yellow-bellied Tit (E), Fire-capped Tit , Ground Tit (E), Sooty Bushtit (hybrid with Black-browed Bushtit), Giant Grey Shrike, Tiger Shrike, Snow Pigeon, Speckled Wood Pigeon, White-backed Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Necklaced Woodpecker, Brown Bullfinch, Gray-headed Bullfinch, Chinese Nuthatch, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Sichuan Treecreeper (E), Gold-fronted Fulvetta (E), Chinese Fulvetta (E), Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Spectacled Fulvetta, White-browed Tit Warbler, Maroon-backed Accentor, Pygmy Cupwing, Scaly-breasted Cupwing, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Bianchi’s Warbler, Marten’s Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler, Alstrom’s Warbler, Emei Leaf Warbler (E), Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Alpine/Tickell’s Leaf Warbler , Humes Leaf Warbler, Claudia’s Leaf Warbler, Kloss’s Leaf Warbler, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Sichuan Bush Warbler (E), Brown Bush Warbler, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler, Abberant Bush Warbler, Little Forktail, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Chinese Blackbird (E), Rufous-necked Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Moupinia/ Rufous-tailed Babbler (E), Slaty Bunting (E)
Sensitive species recorded during the tour but not included in the public ebird trip list: Red-billed Blue-Magpie, Saker Falcon, Emei Shan Liocichla, Buffy Laughingthrush, Chinese Hwamei
left to right: Guojie Han, Kexin Peng, Daohong Wang, Seth Barr, Chuhan Li, Daniel Manrique, Chiu Shu Jen, Terri Wang, Chu Shin-Ju, Summer Wong
We skipped Kangding because there was a wedding in the village, and they weren’t accepting any birders that week.
On our private Sichuan birding tour from May 22 to June 10, 2025, we recorded 290 species, including 35 endemics, along with other breeding endemics, near-endemics, and highlight birds such as:
16 species of pheasants: Chinese Monal (E), White-eared Pheasant (E), Blue-eared Pheasant (E), Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Golden Pheasant (E), Temminck’s Tragopan, Verreaux’s/Chestnut-throated Monal-partridge (E), Tibetan Partridge, Chinese Grouse (E), Tibetan Snowcock, Blood Pheasant, Sichuan Partridge (E), Silver Pheasant, Koklass Pheasant (heard), Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Common Pheasant
10 species of parrotbills: Grey-hooded Parrotbill (E), Spectacled Parrotbill (E), Golden Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Three-toed Parrotbill (E)
Tawny Fish Owl, Grandala, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush(E), Plain/Pere David’s Laughingthrush(E), Elliot’s Laughingthrush (E), Barred Laughingthrush (E), Giant Laughingthrush (E), Emei Shan Liocichla (E), Buffy Laughingthrush (E), Black-faced Laughingthrush, Red-winged Laughingthrush, Spotted Laughingthrush, Chinese Babax, Salim Ali’s Swift (E), Tibetan Lark, Black-necked Crane, Saker Falcon, Chinese Rubythroat, Siberian Rubythroat, Firethroat, Przevalski’s Finch/Pinktail (E), Three-banded Rosefinch (E), Blanford’s Rosefinch, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinch (E), White-bellied Redstart, Indian Blue Robin, Golden Bush Robin, White-browed Bush Robin, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Pere David’s Tit (E), Sichuan Tit (E), White-browed Tit (E), Yellow-bellied Tit (E), Fire-capped Tit , Ground Tit (E), Giant Grey Shrike, Tiger Shrike, Snow Pigeon, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Necklaced Woodpecker, Brown Bullfinch, Gray-headed Bullfinch, Chinese Nuthatch, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Sichuan Treecreeper (E), Gold-fronted Fulvetta (E), Chinese Fulvetta(E, heard), Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Spectacled Fulvetta, White-browed Tit Warbler, Crested Tit Warbler(E), Maroon-backed Accentor, Scaly-breasted Cupwing, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Bianchi’s Warbler, Marten’s Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler, Alstrom’s Warbler, Emei Leaf Warbler (E), Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Alpine/Tickell’s Leaf Warbler , Humes Leaf Warbler, Claudia’s Leaf Warbler, Kloss’s Leaf Warbler, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Sichuan Bush Warbler (E), Brown Bush Warbler, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Chinese Blackbird (E), Rufous-necked Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Moupinia/ Rufous-tailed Babbler (E), Slaty Bunting (E)
Sensitive species recorded during the tour but not included in the public ebird trip list: Red-billed Blue-Magpie, Emei Shan Liocichla, Buffy Laughingthrush, Chinese Hwamei
left to right : Daniel Chesterman, Kimberly Arnold, Summer Wong, Robin Arnold, Sarah Holman
Participants: Christian Dortu, Denis Parkes, Stefan Ambs, Anita Marie Ambs, Theresa Duna, Stefan Hage, Morgan Svensson, Pontus Gronvall, Anders Kornestedt
On our scheduled Sichuan birding tour from May 2–21, 2025, we recorded 322 species, including 37 endemics, as well as other breeding endemics, near-endemics, and highlight birds such as:
16 species of pheasants: Chinese Monal (E), White-eared Pheasant (E), Blue-eared Pheasant (E), Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Golden Pheasant (E), Temminck’s Tragopan (E), Verreaux’s/Chestnut-throated Monal-partridge (E), Tibetan Partridge, Chinese Grouse (E), Snow Partridge, Tibetan Snowcock, Blood Pheasant, Sichuan Partridge (E, heard), Silver Pheasant, Chinese Bamboo Partridge (heard), Common Pheasant
9 species of parrotbills: Grey-hooded Parrotbill (E), Spectacled Parrotbill (E), Golden Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Three-toed Parrotbill (E)
Tawny Fish Owl, Himalayan Owl, Streaked Barwing,Grandala, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush (E), Plain/Pere David’s Laughingthrush (E), Elliot’s Laughingthrush (E), Barred Laughingthrush (E), Giant Laughingthrush (E), Emei Shan Liocichla (E), Buffy Laughingthrush (E), Black-faced Laughingthrush, Red-winged Laughingthrush, Spotted Laughingthrush, Chinese Babax, Sichuan Jay (E), Salim Ali’s Swift (E), Tibetan Lark, Black-necked Crane, Saker Falcon, Chinese Rubythroat, Siberian Rubythroat, Firethroat, Przevalski’s Finch/Pinktail (E), Three-banded Rosefinch (E), Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinch (E), White-bellied Redstart, Indian Blue Robin, Golden Bush Robin, White-browed Bush Robin, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Pere David’s Tit (E), Sichuan Tit (E), White-browed Tit (E), Yellow-bellied Tit (E), Fire-capped Tit , Ground Tit (E), Sooty Bushtit (hybrid with Black-browed Bushtit), Giant Grey Shrike, Tiger Shrike, Snow Pigeon, Speckled Wood Pigeon, White-backed Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Necklaced Woodpecker, Brown Bullfinch, Gray-headed Bullfinch, Chinese Nuthatch, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Sichuan Treecreeper (E), Gold-fronted Fulvetta (E), Chinese Fulvetta (E), Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Spectacled Fulvetta, White-browed Tit Warbler, Crested Tit Warbler (E), Maroon-backed Accentor, Pygmy Cupwing, Scaly-breasted Cupwing, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Bianchi’s Warbler, Marten’s Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler, Alstrom’s Warbler, Emei Leaf Warbler (E), Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Alpine/Tickell’s Leaf Warbler , Humes Leaf Warbler, Claudia’s Leaf Warbler, Kloss’s Leaf Warbler, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Sichuan Bush Warbler (E), Brown Bush Warbler, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler, Abberant Bush Warbler, Little Forktail, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Chinese Blackbird (E), Rufous-necked Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Moupinia/ Rufous-tailed Babbler (E), Slaty Bunting (E)
Top five birds on tour (turned out to be many):
No.1 : Chinese Monal, Gold-fronted Fulvetta, Verreaux’s Monal-partridge, Temminck’s Tragopan, Parrotbills (all of them!)
Sensitive species recorded during the tour but not included in the public ebird trip list: Red-billed Blue-Magpie, Saker Falcon, Emei Shan Liocichla, Buffy Laughingthrush, Ural Owl (Sichuan Wood Owl), Chinese Hwamei
left to right: Denis, Stefan, Morgan, Stefan, Anders, Pontus, Christian, Theresa, Anita, Summer
Birding spots on this tour: Shanghai, Wuyuan, Poyang Lake, Huoshan, Dongzhai, Emei Feng, Mingxi, Sanming, Fuzhou, Hainan Island – Jianfengling, Danzhou
On our private 20-day Eastern China birding tour from 2 – 21 Mar 2025, we recorded 251 species, including 10 endemics, along with other highlight birds such as:
Cabot’s Tragopan (E), Reeves’s Pheasant (E), Silver Pheasant, Koklass Pheasant, Elliot’s Pheasant (E), White-necklaced Partridge (E, heard only), Hainan Peacock Pheasant (E), Hainan Partridge (E), Pied Falconet, Scaly-sided Merganser, Crested Ibis, Reed Parrotbill, Short-tailed Parrotbill, Baer’s Pochard, Siberian Crane, Common Crane, Hooded Crane, White-naped Crane, Blyth’s Kingfisher, Chinese Barbet (E), Spotted Elachura, White-eared Night Heron, Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler (E), Mandarin Duck, Manchurian Bush Warbler, Hainan Leaf Warbler (E), Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Marsh Grassbird, Chinese Penduline Tit, Sultan Tit, Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush, Chinese Hwamei, Spot-necked Babbler, Masked Laughingthrush, Black-throated Laughingthrush, Red-headed Trogon, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Large Scimitar Babbler, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Indochinese Green Magpie, Eastern Grass Owl, Eastern Barn Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, King Quail, Barred Buttonquail, Black-faced Spoonbill, Dusky Fulvetta, Huet’s Fulvetta, Indochinese Yuhina, Chinese Blackbird (E), Chinese Grosbeak, White’s Thrush, Yellow-browed Bunting, Pallas’s Reed Bunting,Tristram’s Bunting, Painted Snipe, Saunders’s Gull, Pale-capped Pigeon
Sensitive species recorded during the tour but not included in the public ebird trip list: Hainan Peacock-Pheasant, Eastern Barn Owl, Oriental Bay-Owl, Red-billed Blue-Magpie, Chinese Hwamei, Black-throated Laughingthrush
left to right: Wang Wenbin, Mark, Peter, Summer at the Pale-capped Pigeon site
Birding spots on this winter eastern China tour: Shanghai, Wuyuan, Poyang Lake, Dongzhai, Emei Feng, Mingxi, Sanming, Fuzhou
On our private 15-day Eastern China birding tour from 15 Feb to 1 Mar, 2025 , we recorded 221 species, including 7 endemics, along with other highlight birds such as:
Birding spots on this tour: Xining, Gonghe, Maduo, Nangqian, Qumalai, Golmud, Dulan, Chaka, Qinghaihu Lake
On our scheduled 12-day Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau birding tour from July 14–25, 2024, we recorded 150 species, including 19 endemics, along with other highlight birds such as:
